T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Swimming Lady: Or, a Wanton Discovery
Anonymous(From Collection of Old Ballads, 1723)
|
THE FOUR and twentieth Day of May, | |
| Of all Times in the Year, | |
| A Virgin-Lady bright and gay, | |
| Did privately appear | |
| Close by a River-side, which she | 5 |
| Did single out the rather, | |
| ’Cause she was sure, she was secure, | |
| And had an Intent to bath her. | |
| With glittering Glance, her jealous Eyes, | |
| Did slyly look about, | 10 |
| To see if any lurking Spies, | |
| Were hid to find her out; | |
| And being well resolv’d that none | |
| Could view her Nakedness; | |
| She puts her Robes off, one by one | 15 |
| And doth her self undress. | |
| A purple Mantle (fringed with Gold) | |
| Her Ivory Hands unpin, | |
| It would have made a Coward bold, | |
| Or tempted a Saint to sin; | 20 |
| She turns about to look again, | |
| I hope, says she, I am safe, | |
| And then a Rosy Petticoat, | |
| She presently put off. | |
| The Snow-white Smock which she had on | 25 |
| Transparently so decked her, | |
| It looked like Cambrick-Lawn, upon | |
| An Alabaster Picture, | |
| Thro’ which your Eye might faintly spy | |
| Her Belly and her Back; | 30 |
| Her Limbs were strait, and all was white | |
| But that which should be black. | |
| The Part which she’s ashamed to see | |
| Without a bashful Blush, | |
| Appeared like curious Tiffany | 35 |
| Displayed upon a Bush: | |
| But that Posterior extreme Limb | |
| She cannot look upon, | |
| Did like a twisted Cherry seem | |
| Before the white was gone. | 40 |
| As when a Masquing Scene is drawn, | |
| And new Lights do appear, | |
| When she put off her Smock of Lawn, | |
| Just such a Sight was there: | |
| The bright Reflection of her Eyes, | 45 |
| In every Limb was strowed, | |
| As when the radiant Sun doth rise, | |
| And gild each neighbouring Cloud. | |
| Into a fluent Stream she leapt, | |
| Which looked like liquid Glass; | 50 |
| The Fishes from all Quarters crept, | |
| To see what Angel ’twas; | |
| She did so like a Vision look, | |
| Or Fancy in a Dream, | |
| ’Twas thought the Sun the Sky forsook, | 55 |
| And dropt into the Stream, | |
| Each Fish did wish himself a Man, | |
| About her all were drawn, | |
| And at the Sight of her began | |
| To spread abroad their Spawn: | 60 |
| She turned to swim upon her Back, | |
| And so display’d her Banner, | |
| If Jove had then in Heaven been | |
| He would have dropt upon her. | |
| Thus was the River’s Diamond Head, | 65 |
| With Pearl and Sapphire crowned: | |
| Her Legs did shove, her Arms did move, | |
| Her Body did rebound; | |
| She that did quaff the Juice of Joy, | |
| (Fair Venus Queen of Love) | 70 |
| With Mars did never in more ways, | |
| Of melting Motion move. | |
| A Lad that long her Love had been, | |
| And could obtain no Grace, | |
| For all her prying, lay unseen; | 75 |
| Hid in a secret Place; | |
| Who having been repulsed when he | |
| Did often come to woo her, | |
| Pull’d off his Clothes, and furiously | |
| Did run and leap in to her. | 80 |
| She shrieks, she strives, and down she dives, | |
| He brings her up again, | |
| He got her o’er, upon the Shore, | |
| And then, and then, and then! | |
| As Adam did old Eve enjoy, | 85 |
| You may guess what I mean; | |
| Because she all uncovered lay, | |
| He covered her again. | |
| With wat’ry Eyes, she pants, and cries | |
| I’m utterly undone, | 90 |
| If you’ll not be wedded unto me, | |
| E’er the next Morning Sun; | |
| He answered her, I’ll never stir | |
| Out of thy Sight ’till then; | |
| We’ll both clap Hands, in Wedlock Bands, | 95 |
| Marry, and to’t agen. | |